MotoGP Features. Page 10

May 2004

Open article Tamada - the smiling samurai.
13 May 2004:
Makoto Tamada may carry the hopes of the Honda and the Japanese sporting nation on his shoulders, but it seems such pressure does little to change his positive attitude to grand prix racing and life in general.

Open article Rainey, Lawson battle at Laguna!
4 May 2004:
Former 500cc world champions Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson returned to the racetrack together last weekend, when they dominated the 'World Superkart' event at Laguna Seca.

April 2004

Open article Yamaha set-up report – Jerez.
28 April 2004:
For some time Jerez, Spain has signified the beginning of the European leg of the MotoGP world championship and for 2004 the state of play remains the same, despite Jerez being the second round this time round rather than the third.

Open article Rossi proves rider greater than machine.
19 April 2004:
Valentino Rossi's superb victory at Welkom may mark the start of a new era in MotoGP, where the recent emphasis upon exotic technology is replaced by a realisation that, however great the machine, it's the rider that's most important.

Open article Byrne: You're gonna have it this time…
15 April 2004:
This Sunday will see reigning British Superbike champion Shane Byrne make his MotoGP race debut aboard the Aprilia RS Cube – a machine which 'Shakey' admits scared him at first, despite a dedicated PlayStation programme to learn new tracks!

Open article Hodgson: I'm over the scary period.
15 April 2004:
This weekend in South Africa, Neil Hodgson will make his return to the premier GP class, on a d'Antin run Ducati, nine years after he rode as a privateer in the then 500cc world championship.

Open article McWilliams: That was me being stupid...
15 April 2004:
2004 will see Jeremy McWilliams return to Aprilia, after two-years at Proton Team KR, to ride the Noale based company's fearsome RS Cube – a machine that has already left the Ulsterman with two broken ribs.

Open article Shinya backs 250, surprised by Superbike.
14 April 2004:
At a time when the importance of the 250cc world championship is being questioned, particularly as a proving ground for MotoGP, new Kawasaki signing Shinya Nakano has voiced his support for the series – but admits he was surprised by the performance of former Superbike riders.

Open article Repsol riders play down factory advantage.
12 April 2004:
Alex Barros and Nicky Hayden have cast doubt on the assumption that, as factory Honda riders, they will have a significant machinery advantage this season – Hayden believing such comments from fellow RCV competitors could simply be 'an excuse'.

Open article Hayden: Rossi's got my respect.
12 April 2004:
Valentino Rossi won the respect of almost the entire two-wheeled world for having the courage to walk out on the most desired seat in motorcycle racing, and Nicky Hayden, the man he left behind at Repsol Honda, has stated his own support for the Italian's 'brave' move.

Open article Yamaha set-up report – Welkom.
12 April 2004:
The Phakisa circuit, a stand-alone facility near Welkom in the South African gold fields, is a flat and frequently dusty track, ringed by a speed bowl designed for CART-style car racing.

Open article Barros 'not riding for second'.
8 April 2004:
2004 will see Alex Barros start his fifteenth season in motorcycling's premier-class, the most experienced man in MotoGP having joined the factory Repsol Honda team for what will surely be his best - and perhaps last - chance of a world title.

Open article Hayden: Mladin could make it in MotoGP.
1 April 2004:
Nicky Hayden has named former rival Mat Mladin as the AMA rider most capable of 'making headlines' in MotoGP, while stating that the future could see more than one Hayden in the world championship.

March 2004

Open article Rossi: F1 just for fun.
31 March 2004:
MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has put an end to speculation that he's planning a future in Formula One, by stating that any F1 test would be purely for fun.

Open article Kawasaki launch 'potent' 2004 racer.
25 March 2004:
The third pre-season launch on Thursday at Barcelona, and attended by Crash.net, was by the Kawasaki Racing Team, who unveiled their new 'potent' ZX-RR racer with which Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann will carry team green honours this season.

Open article Barcelona treated as Yamaha unveils new line-up.
25 March 2004:
Yamaha launched its 2004 MotoGP effort with an action-packed ceremony in the centre of Barcelona this afternoon [Thursday] as Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa were joined by Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 team-mates Marco Melandri and Norick Abe to unveil their race machines in full livery.

January 2004

Open article Trouble ahead for 'Gauloises Fortuna' teams?
18 January 2004:
The decision to include the names of both the Gauloises and Fortuna tobacco brands as title sponsors of the four Yamaha MotoGP machines could leave the outfits facing criticism for excessive tobacco advertising.

Open article Friendly fire continues...
16 January 2004:
2004 is likely to see one of the most intense Honda/Yamaha battles for many seasons, but it seems that despite numerous staff and rider transfers between them, neither wants to fire the first shot.

December 2003

Open article How far is Honda ahead?
31 December 2003:
There is no doubt that Honda was the manufacturer to beat in 2003, winning all but one of the sixteen rounds while its riders took the top three positions in the championship, but exactly how far ahead was the awesome RC211V?

Open article McCoy slides to World Superbikes.
15 December 2003:
Garry McCoy has become the latest GP veteran to be forced out of the premier-class, with the news that the 'Slide King' will replace Regis Laconi in the NCR Ducati team in the 2004 World Superbike championship.

Open article Biaggi the next slide king?
4 December 2003:
Having been controversially labelled a '250 rider' ever since his move to the premier-class in 1998, Max Biaggi has made considerable efforts of late to adapt his front-wheel corner speed style to more of a rear-wheel slider, as demanded by the massive power outputs from the new generation of four-stroke prototypes.

November 2003

Open article Kato inquiry: Racing accident, barriers to blame.
28 November 2003:
The inquiry set-up by Honda to establish the cause of Daijiro Kato's death at the season opening Japanese Grand Prix has declared that mechanical failure was not to blame – and that the former 250cc world champion's fatal accident was probably triggered by a loss of rear grip.

Open article Rossi's M1 to keep inline-four engine.
22 November 2003:
Ever since Valentino Rossi's two-year Yamaha deal was confirmed, speculation has grown as to whether the Japanese manufacturer is planning to build an entirely new machine for the Italian, perhaps without their traditional inline four-cylinder engine.

Open article Burgess confirmed, four leave Repsol with Rossi.
20 November 2003:
Crash.net can confirm that four of the six Repsol Honda team members directly responsible for running Valentino Rossi have left to join the Italian in his new adventure at Yamaha - with nine-times world champion crew chief Jerry Burgess heading the list.

Open article Yamaha expects Barros to stay.
20 November 2003:
A Yamaha source has told Crash.net that Alex Barros is expected to stay with the team in 2004, despite the Brazilian being hunted by Honda to replace Valentino Rossi alongside predicted future star Nicky Hayden.

Open article Challengers suffer 'fall-out' in pursuit of Rossi. [1]
19 November 2003:
So how do you win a World Championship? Do you throw caution to the wind at every opportunity, risking crashing to win races and starting high up the grid or are you more cautious? Statistics on the number of crashes this season have just been released and they are not going to help solve the argument in any way.

Open article Rossi's replacement still a mystery.
18 November 2003:
The identity of Valentino Rossi's replacement at Repsol Honda - the most coveted ride in MotoGP - still remains a mystery almost three weeks after the Italian's seat at the factory team became officially vacant.

Open article Rossi should have read the small print...
14 November 2003:
It now looks certain that Honda will block any attempts by Valentino Rossi and Yamaha to get the Italian onto their M1 before his HRC contract ends on 1/1/2004, thus reducing Rossi's input into next year's machine considerably.

Open article Doohan: Yamaha are sick of losing.
11 November 2003:
Following yesterday's announcement that Valentino Rossi would be joining Yamaha, Mick Doohan - HRC's general manager of racing - has given a multiple world champion's insight on the biggest shake-up in the premier-class for over a decade.

Open article Rossi to take Burgess to Yamaha?
4 November 2003:
The delay in announcing Valentino Rossi as a Yamaha rider is rumoured to be partly caused by efforts to tempt key members of Rossi's former factory Honda team - including legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess - to move with him.

Open article Biaggi hopes all Hondas are equal.
4 November 2003:
Max Biaggi's first season as a Honda RCV rider came to a disappointing end as the double 2003 race winner limped home in fourth place at Valencia – after suffering from a lack of engine braking.

Open article Rossi's 'crazy' future.
3 November 2003:
Its official: Valentino Rossi has made the bravest decision of his career, turning from Honda's biggest star to Honda's biggest rival as he accepts a challenge that in his own words is 'a little bit crazy'.

October 2003

Open article Bostrom pleased with Hayden, eager to join him.
30 October 2003:
This year, for the first time since 1997, two of America's most promising future stars - Eric Bostrom and Nicky Hayden - haven't faced each other on a racetrack, after Nicky made the jump from AMA Superbike to MotoGP. However, he hasn't escaped yet: Eric is eager to join him and has been watching his progress closely.

Open article Yamaha set-up report - Valencia.
30 October 2003:
Valencia offers good camber and an abrasive surface, but it's slightly undulating layout, stop and go corners, bumps and a tight design have led to many front end loses.

Open article Cobas Insight: Valencia.
29 October 2003:
Antonio Cobas, technical director of the Camel Pramac Pons team, describes the challenges that will face the MotoGP teams at this weekend's Valencia Grand Prix...

Open article Telefonica: Second seat still open.
24 October 2003:
Despite persistent rumours that Colin Edwards will join Telefonica Movistar Honda next season, the team insist that although the American is one of a number of 'possibilities', no deal has yet been done.

Open article Rossi still holding MotoGP hostage.
23 October 2003:
With deadlines and final offers having come and gone, Valentino Rossi continues to hold MotoGP hostage - intentionally or not - by refusing to announce his future plans with just one more GP to go this season.

Open article Race direction seeking direction?
16 October 2003:
The decision of race direction to ban John Hopkins (pictured) and exclude Makoto Tamada for 'causing danger to other riders' at Motegi caused uproar within the MotoGP community, and - like it or not - set a trend for future racing incidents which is yet to be resolved.

Open article Cobas Insight: Phillip Island.
16 October 2003:
Antonio Cobas, technical director of the Camel Pramac Pons team, describes the challenges that will face the MotoGP teams at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix...

Open article Fear of flying prevents Rossi family celebration.
15 October 2003:
It's a shame that Graziano Rossi is not a great fan of air travel as, for the fourth time out of five, a proud father has missed the chance of celebrating a world title with his son because he will not venture up the steps of the 'silver bird'.